The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-07-06
Lily's Garden.


flower.
AT the advanced age of eighteen she
was beginning to feel quite grown up,
and the fact perpleXed her, particularly
as she failed to discover any means of
broadening her existence, which seemed
to grow narrower as she grew older.
Her education was limited to the adj
vantages the village school supplied,
and she had read all the books avail
able, from " Pilgrims Progress" to
the latest novel procurable, and was
still signing for new worlds to conquer.
Possessed of refined tastes and the
usual youthful enthusiasm for every
thing pretty and interesting, she was
yet hedged in to narrow limits by the
very veXing question of ways and
means. Her mother was a widow and
not over strong, whose limited income
Just enabled her to keep up the family
credit, as far as external appearance
went. And Miss Lily's pretty dresses
were in nowise the least illustration OF
her mothers tasteful ingenuity.
But mamma could render no assist
ance in devising some source of pc
cuniary profit suitable for her daughter
while she remained under the home
roof, anything that would take her from
her protection being an absurdity not
to be dreamed of.
My daughter will have to wait until
her ship comes in, or till the fairy
prince arrives" mamma said. But she
heaved secret sigh, nevertheless, and
added Don't be thinking, dear, OF
all the impossible things you would like
to possess. but rather of how much you
have to enjoy"
{" That was all very we'll" thought
Lily, " for old people and invalids, but
with youth and health there must
be something to eXpend her surplus
energies on, which she would yet dis.
cover.n
The March winds were caroling in a
boisterous and noisy fashion ubout the
house, making the coy sitting-room
seem unusually cheerful.
Lily was scanning the weekly news
grandpa, with look of calm content
was contemplating the distant noun
tains, possibly trying to peer into the
still farther and SUMMER {" beyond,
into which his many old-time friend;
had vanished.
She laid down the paper with the de
cisive audible comment, " That's jus
what I'll dor'
" What are you just going to do?'
said the silver-haired grandsire, recalled
again to the realities of time.
But Lily was not just then prepared
to answer. My plans" she said, with
respectful dignity, " are not very def
mite yet"
-" A man of words and not of deed
is like a garden full of weeds you
know" and then she flew upstairs, t
think undisturbed in the solitude of he
own room, humming as she went ia
vorite melody.
The doings of Miss Lily CONNIE nceC
to be very queer thenceforward, ant
mamma feared she had taken leave O
her senses.
Her first absurdity was to hastily ar
range for visit to Uncle Johns, anC
the next one was to mount the truck
wagon beside farm hand to accom-
plish the journey, having argued dowl
mammals objections, as she was nearl,
always able to do.
And when, two days later, she wa
left at the house at an early hour, ladel
with pile of books and pamphlets
mamma seriously demanded an eXplana
ton of such proceedings.
" had an idea, mamma mine!" sal
Lily, "and, not wishing to bother yo
with it, have consulted with uncle an
auntie about my prospective gardenin
scheme"
"Your what?" said mamma, in dis
may.
why, I've read that women can d
it, and think there will be no harr
in trying it. Uncle John thinks
might, in a small way, and has offere
to help me, and l am going to read u
the subject. Here are these illustrate
catalogues that contain much informs
ton, and then this Gardening fC
Profit is just what hits me, for it
the profits that l am after, first an
foremost, and the sentiment of tn
thing afterwards"
Sentiment echoed mamma. 4" A
if sentiment could be associated wit
onions and cabbages and dirt Hav
you yet considered the labor involved
Who is going to weed and tend tn
fine garden? And who will manage a
the details of your elaborate scheme?
" Myself - Miss Lily Arlington
some available boys in the neighbo
hood, with possible favors from Unc
John besides.n
WE'LL" said mamma, resignedl
g shall not oppose you. 1t will pc
haps prove a serviceable lesson to yol
and then when you have tried the ell
terprise to your satisfaction, and hay
grown as sallow and yellow as a tige
lily, you will perhaps be thorough
cured of your mercenary scheme al
conclude to let well enough alone"
Thanks, mamma, dear, your obie
tons shall prove a stimulant; | a
bound to disappoint you happily,
you will be good enough to furnish n
with some long wristed linen mitts
you know you have the pattern "
made last summers Jersey mitts by
and some cool, wide sunbonnets, l
take the risk with my complexion.
Aunt En- gave me that idea; "
see she anticipated your objection
And my navy-blue flannel, proper
shortened, will be just the thing f
dewy mornings.
"And if my ship should come
laden with strawberries, green peas a
early vegetables it will be none the lC
welcome. Who knows what lots
luXuries they may bring us. In til
we may have a library and possibly
piopo -